Granados confirms withdrawal of gendarmes in BA province

BA province Security Minister Alejandro Granados greets a police woman with a kiss during a rally to improve the provincial security system.

Buenos Aires province Security Minister Alejandro Granados confirmed the withdrawal of gendarmes in the district commanded by Governor Daniel Scioli, to be replaced now by police officers who had been deployed to coastal cities during the summer.

In statements to a radio show this morning, Granados explained that "5,000 gendarmes" have been deployed in BA province over the past months and that Scioli will be coordinating the agents' replacement during next week’s meeting with Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich.

Meanwhile, the provincial official referred to a bill that aims at creating municipal police in 40 of BA province most populated districts, submitted to the provincial legislature earlier in the week.

“It will allow every town to have its own police financed by the (provincial) government, something that is worrying some mayors at this time.” The Daniel Scioli administration, Granados added, finances not only the security “personnel” but is in charge of the “operation and equipment” budget as well.

If approved, municipalities in Argentina’s most populated province will count with "10,000-15,000 officers" by the beginning of next year to work on minor crimes with provincial security agents focused on patrolling the streets.

“There is an absolute commitment of mayors, I speak everyday with them and they are very interested in providing neighbours with security,” Granados told reporters.